Lebanon, IL - McKendree University Women's Basketball returns home to the Statham Sports Center on Monday evening, hosting the Rockhurst Hawks at 5:30 PM in the 2025-2026 season's GLVC Home Opener. The Bearcats (2-2, 0-1 GLVC) are looking to rebound off a tough loss at Maryville (49-64) last Tuesday, while the Hawks (3-2, 0-1 GLVC) look to improve themselves, after they were unable to stop a hot-shooting Truman State squad on Saturday (58-81). Rockhurst arrives with a balanced group and one of the GLVC's more physical rebounding units, setting up a meaningful early December matchup for both squads.
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RECAPPING MARYVILLE
McKendree fell 64-49 at Maryville on Tuesday despite a high-quality stat line from
Morgan Feil, who posted 10 points and 7 rebounds, going 10-for-12 at the stripe to lead the Bearcats' scoring.
Tessa Crawford added 9 points, 3 steals, and a team-high 28 minutes logged, while
Kyra Taylor finished with 7 points and 3 rebounds.
Baylie Parks hauled in 7 boards, and
Emma Slings added 5 rebounds of her own, but the Bearcats shot 14-of-61 (23.0%) from the field and 3-for-24 (12.5%) from three, including a difficult 1-for-14 second quarter that allowed the Saints to build a margin that held the rest of the night, but never got bigger, as the Bearcats did enough defensively to keep the game within reach. McKendree forced 18 turnovers and scored 15 points off of them. Maryville, though, countered with 22-for-52 shooting (42.3%) a 32-12 advantage in the paint, and 25 bench points.
CHECKING IN ON THE BEARCATS
Across their first four games, McKendree has shown clear patterns that reflect a team crashing hard on the glass and forcing turnovers. The Bearcats are averaging 61.8 points per game, with three different players leading the team in scoring for a game.
Kyra Taylor has led the way inside consistently with scoring nights of 12 and 14, while
Chloe White has reached double figures twice.
Tessa Crawford has totaled 28 points over the last three games, highlighted by 11 against Harris-Stowe and 9 at Maryville.
Rebounding has been a centerpiece. The Bearcats have posted 39, 41, 42, and 38 rebounds in their four games, led by
Baylie Parks and
Morgan Feil in that department. McKendree has grabbed 13 or more offensive rebounds in three straight games and is averaging around 14 second-chance points in its two wins. Feil's 10-for-12 performance at Maryville helped lift McKendree to 72% free throw shooting across its last three games.
Defensively, the Bearcats are forcing 17.8 turnovers per game and have posted games of 16, 20, 18, and 17, converting them to 15 or more points in three games. Opponents have been held under 38% shooting in three of McKendree's four games. The primary next step is stabilizing efficiency from beyond the arc.
SCOUTING ROCKHURST
Rockhurst enters the matchup at 3-2, averaging 71.2 points per game, and features five players averaging at least 6.0 points per game. The Hawks are led by Tori Miller at 17.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, shooting 50.8% from the field, while Macie Conway adds 11.6 points and is on of Rockhurst's most aggressive off-the-dribble scorers. Keeley Steele, Kayla Reis, and Ella Campbell supply additional perimeter production, giving the Hawks multiple capable options who space the floor.
Rockhurst rebounds at a high level (43.6 per game), with Alivia McCulla, Cristina Luquin, Chloe Frank, and Bailey Brown anchoring a frontcourt that features four players of 6'0" or taller. Defensively, the Hawks generate 22.4 turnovers per game and average 11.4 steals, making passing discipline essential for McKendree.
BEARCAT KEYS TO THE GAME
Start fast and settle into an early rhythm
McKendree needs a strong first 10 minutes. Getting players like Taylor and Parks touches inside and freeing White and Crawford clean perimeter looks will help the Bearcats avoid having to play from behind early.
Finish possessions on the defensive glass
Rockhurst averages 43.6 rebounds per game, so limiting their second-chance opportunities is critical. The Bearcats will need to rebound in traffic and prevent the Hawks from extending long possessions.
Protect the ball against Rockhurst's pressure
The Hawks force 22.4 turnovers per game, one of their defensive strengths. McKendree must be sharp on the passing, spacing, and ball security to keep Rockhurst from creating easy points off turnovers.
Lean on the starting group's stability
With Crawford, Johnson, Taylor, White, and Slings starting each game thus far, McKendree's lineup has continuity. Winning those stretches - especially early in each half - can tilt momentum before Rockhurst's pressure sets in.
Generate transition chances when they're available
McKendree has produced 15 or more points off turnovers in three of the four games. Turning defensive stops into early offense could help jump start confidence and avoid the need for a half-court grind.
